D-428 to hear about online charter school

DeKALB – For the next month, DeKalb school officials will weigh the benefits and costs of joining a multidistrict, online charter school.

The DeKalb School District 428 board will hear from officials with Virtual Learning Solutions of St. Charles at its meeting today.

If the district chooses to enroll, DeKalb students will be able to sign up for classes with the Illinois Virtual Academy at Fox River Valley in the fall.

The academy’s company, Virtual Learning Solutions of St. Charles, is petitioning 18 local school districts, including Sycamore.

Students who enroll in the online charter school will not be able to enroll in a District 428 school.

District 428 Superintendent Jim Briscoe said the board and administration will listen to the presentation with an open mind.

“It provides for the school board and the administration to ask questions,” Briscoe said.

The meeting also will serve as a public hearing, and attendees will have an opportunity to comment.

The board has 30 days to approve or deny the charter. The administration’s recommendation, as well as the board vote, likely will occur at the April 16 meeting, Briscoe said. Board members elected April 9 will not be seated until May.

“The board that will hear the public hearing will be the board that votes on it,” Briscoe said.

If you go

What: Public hearing on online charter school at DeKalb school board meeting